Quote Originally Posted by gemini9961
I suspect environmental allergies. He's on Frontline Plus for fleas so that shouldn't be a problem. As for food, he's on Iams (yuck I know ). I suggested to my mom that his diet may be a contributing factor, she tried raw before but evidently didn't continue for whatever reason. My mom is his caretaker right now as my brother is unable to care for him. He's itchy on his belly and right around his hind quarters. He sometimes licks his paws too. No ear infections/irritations, just itchy belly. He digs at himself. He indoor and outdoor, outdoor to play and pee and indoor for everything else. He sleeps indoors and eats indoors. We live in central Florida. Perhaps I should convince her to try thr raw again with some added vitamins. I have been giving mine Petamins. Mine are on a raw diet with added veggies/fruits. The Petamins were a suggestion from my vet to make sure they were getting all of their nutrients. Back to Kody, the poor guy just seems so uncomfortable. He's had these allergies for quite a while. I was just looking for something oral he could take to maintain them a little better. I'll insist she tries the raw again and see how that gets works.
Poor baby. Environmental allergies are tough since we can't control the contact as much like we can with food. Do they seem seasonally worse? Sounds like it.

One thing that can help is lots and lots of washing. For example, try spot washing the worst areas daily (paws, belly, legs) daily with a hypoallergenic shampoo like ChlorhexiDerm (by DVM Pharmaceuticals). This will reduce the contact time of allergens on the skin, and thus lessen the reaction. I would encourage her to try to be really diligent about washing at least once or twice a day (after prolonged periods outside) for about a week, and then see how much she can improve things that way. She may need to use an oatmeal-based conditioner after washing if she notices that the frequent washing is too drying on Kody's coat. This sounds simple, but sometimes it really makes a huge difference for some dogs.

In terms of the diet, if she is unable to switch to homecooked or raw, then I would at least have her switch to a diet with higher fish content. Wellness foods (canned and dry) have a high fish content and is one of the brands the vet I work with recommends. The omega-3s will decrease inflammation and itching. Another simple way to increase omega-3 intake is to give the dog 1 water-packed sardine per day, bones and all. This is a treat that dogs will love and cheaper and easier than giving fish oil.

If you can somehow narrow down or at least begin to identify what you believe to be the main allergens, then that can really help you practice some avoidance. For instance if the level of itchiness is fairly constant then you may want to consider that it could be something indoors like dust mites (yes, dogs can be allergic to dust mites just like us) or if it worsens during certain seasons then see if it correlates with the pollen count. Here are some ideas and suggestions....

Allergen & Specific Avoidance Suggestions
(from http://www.peteducation.com)

House dust
Keep pets out of room several hours when vacuuming

House dust mites
Use a plastic cover over pet's bed
Wash bedding in very hot water
Avoid letting pets sleep on stuffed furniture
Avoid stuffed toys
Keep pets in uncarpeted rooms
Run air conditioner during hot weather

Molds
Keep pets out of basements
Keep pets indoors when the lawn is mowed
Avoid dusty pet foods
Clean and disinfect humidifiers
Use dehumidifiers
Avoid large numbers of houseplants

Pollens
Keep dogs out of fields
Keep grass cut short
Rinse dog off after periods in high grass and weeds
Keep pets indoors during periods of high pollen season
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General Tips for Dogs with Allergies
(from http://www.peteducation.com)

* Glass or stainless steel food and water bowls, cleaned and rinsed well daily

* Hypoallergenic detergents for the pet's bedding

* Routine hypoallergenic shampoos for the pet to remove any allergens

* Restricting walking to sidewalks or paved surfaces - avoid grass
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I know this sounds like a lot. I would suggest starting with the washing and omega-3s, and seeing how much she can improve things. MS_PAWS has some great suggestions too. I can understand not really wanting to pay for Atopica. This medication works for some dogs and not others. They had a free trial going, but that may be over by now. It may be worth asking Kody's vet though. Other antihistaimes you might want to try include Hydroxyzine, Clemastine fumarate or Chlorpheniramine. I have seen some success with dogs on both Hydroxyzine & Chlorpheniramine at our practice.

Best of luck to Kody and your Mom! I hope some of what I have said will prove helpful.